the debt limit, president obama also said that he's not going to negotiate at all over the debt limit. i don't see how you can get that resolved by december 31st. >> now, could the republicans give in on the tax rates on the rich in this country if they do want to use the debt limit as leverage? >> they could. lot of republicans have said, listen, they know taxes are going to go up, but they want to know how far the president is willing to go in cutting spending, especially that entitlement spending, even social security, before they sign on to the higher rates. you got these guys circling each other before coming together. >> gut check, though. if i'm sitting at home and i'm not following politics closely, it looks like the usual gamesmanship out of washington. in your gut, do you think that this is basically theater and they'll come to a deal quickly? >> i think it's -- i think the odds are about 50/50 right now. which is very high for a negative outcome this far along. there is a very good chance they go over the cliff at least for a few days at the beginning of the year. then, tha